Welcome to Billingshurst Chamber of Commerce

Chairman’s Message

Our Chamber is quite extraordinary when you consider that we have over 80 members yet other very large towns in the county do not even have a Chamber 

This gives Billingshurst business people a real voice on matters that concern us all and is testament to everyone who contributes in any way, thank you. New members are always welcome because strength is in numbers!

I was delighted to have been elected Chairman at this year's AGM having assumed that role temporarily last year from Matt Alsbury-Morris when he stood down for personal and business reasons. Thank you for your support.

Matt started a transformation of the Chamber that continues today. We have formalised our Mission, Objectives and Guiding Principles and enhanced our website, which is now outstanding. We have updated our constitution and our five programme committees - Issues, Events, Communications, Community and Membership - have made excellent headway with key initiatives. These include: 

• Clamping in Jengers Mead - now ceased.  We took this battle as high as our Member of Parliament, Francis Maude, as it posed a massive problem for our retail Members.
• We addressed the Horsham District Council about snow clearance and access to businesses. 
• We lobbied the Parish Council about the extension of Christmas lighting, which is ongoing.
• We arranged briefings on HR, Brinsbury College and a local brewery.
• We submitted a Position Paper to the Horsham District Council expressing our qualified support for the proposed housing development in Billingshurst and have been heavily involved with subsequent planning meetings.
• We now represent our Members on the Community Partnership and several other local bodies.
• And finally, our support of the Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy fourishes.

Susan Venturi

Chairman

Our Mission

A prosperous Billingshurst.

Our Aims

We harness our Members’ strengths to be successful in our Mission through:

Effective promotion:  

We promote the interests of our Members, small or large, with government, business bodies and the community in Billingshurst, West Sussex and nationally, thereby achieving,

Recognition:                

So that we are recognised as an authoritative voice, and can speak with one voice, for Billingshurst business, thereby creating,

Opportunities:            

that benefit  Members through the power of influence and networking in business and the community.

Our Guiding Principles - In our work, we will build on seven pillars: The BILLIES 

Business driven/Billingshurst focused
We all have common interests  –  the prosperity of each Member’s business, employees and families, and those of Billingshurst.
Involved in Issues
We make it our business to be involved in matters that do, or could, impact our businesses, positively or negatively, and we do it with the authority of numbers.
Local Contacts
The combination of our local knowledge and depth of contacts empower us to have broad reach and to punch over our weight.
Logistics
Billingshurst has an excellent infrastructure:  excellent rail, road and air transport, business premises, schools , amenities, work force, and the beauty of its surroundings.
Interaction and Networking 
We help each other proactively, and Chamber membership makes each member part of something larger and stronger.
Engaged/Access 
Our engagement with, and access to, government bodies, the media and the local community means that we are listened to.
Social    
Having fun is an essential part of successful business.